The 2015 MSA Retail Conference & Expo is designed to help nonprofit retail professionals succeed at the balancing act they perform every day with four days of dynamic learning sessions and opportunities to connect with select MSA vendors who offer products matched with the museum store industry. Learning sessions are presented by the leading thinkers in nonprofit retailing who share the knowledge you need to run your store, meet the needs of management, make the most out of challenges, be a leader and through retailing contribute to your institution’s brand and extend the experience of your visitors.

Connect

Network with more than 300 colleagues during receptions, member luncheon and awards, and more receptions.

Learn

More than 20 educational sessions will cover inventory best practices, marketing, financial management, merchandise planning and more.
Fantastic opening and closing keynotes will inspire your work as a nonprofit retail professional.
A guided excursion to Hartford’s historic and fantastic museums will give you new ideas.

Do Business

Connect with more than 200 vendors with merchandise aligned with the museum industry.
Shop for three days and connect with MSA vendors. The best business relationships are born at the MSA Conference & Expo.
The product development marketplace highlights products developed by museum stores.

BLOG

We’ve all done it. Asked a question of a sales clerk only to have them point to the sign in front of us that has the answer we were looking for. That’s because we were on autopilot and since there was someone right there that we could ask, our brain stopped trying to find the […]

NEWS

Four Days of Conference Sessions and Expo Buying from Over 200 Select Vendors for Nonprofit and Independent Retailers The Museum Store Association (MSA) will hold its annual Retail Conference & Expo April 17-20, 2015 at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, Conn. The 2015 MSA Retail Conference & Expo offers four days of dynamic learning […]

FROM MSA

It is about making a profit and producing that ever-elusive, positive net income! Every retailer struggles with this every day—how to attain it and how to increase it. It takes a strong retail team to build the foundation and put all of the pieces together to get there. Do you have the right fixtures and […]

WHY JOIN MSA?

The Museum Store Association Individual Membership gives you access to the knowledge, resources and community you need to create a thriving, revenue-producing store that supports the greater mission of your institution—and the greater mission of YOU! Through MSA, nonprofit retail professionals connect with a select group of vendors who support the association and whose products support your buying and branding strategies.

Online and in-person learning sessions throughout the year.

MSA Certificate Program for your continued career growth.

Connections with MSA vendors who supply high quality, distinctive products for the museum store space.

Your membership is yours—it goes wherever you go.

Online networking with ShopTalk, MSA’s online community.

Members save on popular MSA publications and the Industry Retail Report.

Discounts on books, events, learning sessions and at member museum stores.

THE LATEST SHOPTALK

I am getting ready to put together a fun science display that will entice children as well as adults. I am looking for fun kits for all ages, as well as designing some shirts, novelty items/gifts, etc. I am looking for eye catching packaging. Think of the Wonderology science line at Target. From what I read this is an exclusive line for Target from Spin Master, but exactly what I am looking for. We are also a Coffee Bar so I will include fun caffeine molecule items as well. All ideas appreciated!

Dear Anne and other buyers searching for Kennedy inspired jewelry: We are in the midst of developing a First Ladies Collection which will feature pearl and pave elements in the appropriate historical styles, all made in the USA. If you are interested and would to see what we are developing, or if you have suggestions based on your past sales of Kennedy or other First Lady jewelry, we would love to hear from you. Please let us know about your best selling styles and optimal price points. Since we are in the development phase this is a perfect time to incorporate all your feedback to make an ideal collection. We have some pieces completed and ready to sell and hope to launch an expanded assortment at the NY Now show early February. Many thanks!

We find that our members are not really enticed by discounts. Everyone is bombarded by 40% and 50% off sales at regular retailers all the time. 10% off just doesn’t register. What we do find, however, is that our members love the feeling of “exclusivity” that whipping out that card and getting their special 10% off gives them. They feel a little like they own a piece of the museum (sometimes a little too much). One of the things that we play up is “member only” or “member early” access to programming and events. Our members get access to buy tickets to after hours events, camps, events etc. several days earlier than the general public. For our Santa Train event, trains sell out in minutes, so it’s a big deal to get there first.

I have been asked to meet with our CEO and Finance department to discuss how we might expand our branded offerings in the store and throughout the organization. We have a very small store and I have to be very strategic about what gets shelf space. Can those of you who sell branded/logo merchandise in your stores, especially art museum stores, tell me what types of items sell best? What items have not moved well for you? I’ve been in position less than a year and have not yet created any branded merchandise.